A Three-Month Ankle Foot Orthosis Improves the Spatiotemporal Parameters of Gait in Patients with PAD
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Doctoral)
Major/Field of Study
Biomechanics
Advisor Information
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity Professor, Department of Biomechanics
Location
CEC RM #201/205/209
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
22-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
22-3-2024 10:15 AM
Abstract
Introduction: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs due to narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs, causing reduced blood flow, and pain during exertion. Patients with PAD also have gait deviation compared with healthy patterns, which are characterized by slower walking, shorter step length, greater step width, and rapid plantarflexion after heel contact. These gait impairments reduce optimal energy consumption during walking. The efficacy of ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) in enhancing walking distance among PAD patients has been shown, but the impact on spatiotemporal walking performance remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of AFOs on the spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with PAD, both upon first use and after a three-month AFO intervention. Method: This study utilized a crossover-control design. Patients in the intervention group wore bilateral AFOs daily for three months, while the control group followed the standard of care for the first three months. Both groups returned for a second evaluation, “crossed over” to the other group for three months, then returned for a final evaluation. During the evaluations, patients walked with (AFO) and without (NAF) bilateral AFOs while motion analysis cameras recorded kinematic data. Means and standard deviations of step velocity, step length, step time, and step width were calculated. To see how the intervention worked overtime, we compared the three-month and six-month visits for the control group and the initial and three-month visits for the intervention group. To assess the impact of AFO versus NAF, we compared across conditions in both groups at the initial and three-month visits. Results: After a three-month intervention, patients walked with decreased step time. During a single session, patients had longer step times, indicating slower steps, when walking with AFOs compared to NAF. However, the three-month AFO intervention led to decreased step time mean and variability values, suggesting a positive impact on gait. Step length and velocity variability decreased over three months, making patients with PAD walk more like healthy controls. Conclusion: Our results suggest a beneficial effect of AFOs on spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with PAD, as the intervention made the PAD group’s gait move towards that of healthy individuals.
A Three-Month Ankle Foot Orthosis Improves the Spatiotemporal Parameters of Gait in Patients with PAD
CEC RM #201/205/209
Introduction: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs due to narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs, causing reduced blood flow, and pain during exertion. Patients with PAD also have gait deviation compared with healthy patterns, which are characterized by slower walking, shorter step length, greater step width, and rapid plantarflexion after heel contact. These gait impairments reduce optimal energy consumption during walking. The efficacy of ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) in enhancing walking distance among PAD patients has been shown, but the impact on spatiotemporal walking performance remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of AFOs on the spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with PAD, both upon first use and after a three-month AFO intervention. Method: This study utilized a crossover-control design. Patients in the intervention group wore bilateral AFOs daily for three months, while the control group followed the standard of care for the first three months. Both groups returned for a second evaluation, “crossed over” to the other group for three months, then returned for a final evaluation. During the evaluations, patients walked with (AFO) and without (NAF) bilateral AFOs while motion analysis cameras recorded kinematic data. Means and standard deviations of step velocity, step length, step time, and step width were calculated. To see how the intervention worked overtime, we compared the three-month and six-month visits for the control group and the initial and three-month visits for the intervention group. To assess the impact of AFO versus NAF, we compared across conditions in both groups at the initial and three-month visits. Results: After a three-month intervention, patients walked with decreased step time. During a single session, patients had longer step times, indicating slower steps, when walking with AFOs compared to NAF. However, the three-month AFO intervention led to decreased step time mean and variability values, suggesting a positive impact on gait. Step length and velocity variability decreased over three months, making patients with PAD walk more like healthy controls. Conclusion: Our results suggest a beneficial effect of AFOs on spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with PAD, as the intervention made the PAD group’s gait move towards that of healthy individuals.